Improvement in lightning-bods



@einen tata hsitent @ffice SMITH,- OF 'SAME PLAGE.

Letters .Patent No. 78,459, datc'Juu' 2, 1865.

IMPROVEMENT 'IN LIGfHrINIhlG-R()DSl @The Sirlgtnle nitriet tu ily-tigen ltttcrs atent 2mb making putt ni tige snm.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GEORGE KIRTLAND, of New Haven, 'in the county of New llaveman'd State of Conncc'- ticut, have in vented a new Improvement in Lightning-Rod Coupling' and I do hereby de'clarevthe following,

when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be u full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part' of this specification,

and represent, in-

Figurc 1, :L vertical section of a rod, showing the manner of connecting the'dierent parts, and, in Figure 2, a. top view ofthe socket for securing the rodto the building.-

This invention. relates- A Y First, to the peculiarmanner in which separate pieces of rod are connected one to the other, and,

Second, i'n the peculiar construction of the point, and it's attachment te the rod; and

'lo 'enable others to understand andco'nstruct my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A, B, and C are separate pieces of rod, formed from copper or suitable metallic tubing.

' The usual mannervfor connecting such tubing has been by a divided coupling, half upon-opposite sides of the tube, and the two parts locked firmly on to the tube, which makes a clumsy, bungling jointor connection, and not a. positive conductor from` one piece of rod to another. The objection to this manner of couplingv is vovercome by my invention.

D is a. coupling, formed of about the' diameter of the tube, and having a tail-piece, E, projecting from either side, and made slightly taperiiig., so as to be driven into one -part ofthe tube; then the other-part, driven on to the opposite end. These couplings are formed fr'om copper or other suitable metal, and cast, leaving the rough sand-surface upon the casting, so that, when driven into the rod, the two parts so connected cannot he divided'. v

- If for o branch or angular turn, the coupling isfprimebs/ atl, the third tail-piecebeing formed upon the proper angle. If for a single angle, only two of the tail-'pieces are needed; or if for a cross, `to be formed, as at G, with the requisite four tail-pieces, all coupled as described.

' .lhe point Il, I'v form from solid metal, with a tail-piece, 1,. which is driven into the tube, s seen in the drawing. Thus I form substantially :L continuous rod, and with neat and durable connection.

For the attachment of the rod to the building, I form a ring or socket, L, with a screw-shank, M, seenin tie. 2 and within the socket lace a rin", d of India rubber which is a non-conductor and throufrh the centre.

D s c s 1 a 3 1 pass the rod E, -as seen in fig. 2. This prevents the rattling:r of the rod, and holds it securely in its place, and thcreforeovercomcs many objections to the common attachment.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The internal connection for tubular lightning-rods, constructed substantially-in the manner herein set forth.

2. The socket L, provided with an Indi-a-rubber packingr substantially 'as specied.

GEO. KIR'ILAND. Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, A. J'. TIBBITs.

, in combination with the rod E, so as to operato 

